Aspects of fetal learning and memory
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Ninety-three pregnant women were recruited to assess fetal learning and memory, based on habituation to repeated vibroacoustic stimulation of fetuses of 30–38 weeks gestational age (GA). Each habituation test was repeated 10 min later to estimate the fetal short-term memory. For Groups 30–36, both measurements were replicated in a second session at 38 weeks GA for the assessment of fetal long-term memory. Within the time frame considered, fetal learning appeared GA independent. Furthermore, fetuses were observed to have a short-term (10-min) memory from at least 30 weeks GA onward, which also appeared independent of fetal age. In addition, results indicated that 34-week-old fetuses are able to store information and retrieve it 4 weeks later.
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Third-trimester fetuses register, recognize, and differentially respond to varied stimuli as measured by heart rate changes.
“Third-trimester fetuses register, recognize, and differentially respond to varied stimuli measured by heart rate changes during habituation paradigms.20-24”
From The transition to parenthood in obstetrics: enhancing prenatal care for 2-generation impact (2022) · cites this paper as [20]
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- Authors
- Dirix, C. E. H., Nijhuis, J. G., Jongsma, H. W., & Hornstra, G.
- Affiliations
- Maastricht University Medical Centre (NL)
- Radboud University Medical Center (NL)
- Corresponding author
- Nijhuis, Jan G
- ORCID
- Nijhuis, Jan G
- Venue
- Child Development
- Publisher
- Oxford University Press (OUP)
- Published
- 2009-07-01
- Volume
- 80
- Issue
- 4
- Pages
- 1251-1258
- ISSN
- 0009-3920 (ISSN-L)
- 1467-8624
- OpenAlex
- W1992540109
- Cited by
- 57
- References
- 22
- Citations by year
- 2026: 1 · 2025: 2 · 2024: 2 · 2023: 3 · 2022: 4 · 2021: 2 · 2020: 1 · 2019: 4 · 2017: 3 · 2016: 7 · 2015: 4 · 2014: 5 · 2013: 5 · 2012: 4
- FWCI
- 4.15
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- bronze
- doi.org
- Licence
- Locations
- Child Development (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Pediatrics, Perinatology and Child Health › Infant Development and Preterm Care
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Developmental and Educational Psychology › Child and Animal Learning Development
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Memory and Neural Mechanisms
- Keywords
- fetal learning, fetal memory, habituation, vibroacoustic stimulation, short-term memory, long-term memory, gestational age, fetal development, prenatal auditory stimulation
- MeSH terms
- Acoustics, Female, Humans, Learning, Memory, Pregnancy, Mental Recall, Time Factors, Vibration, Fetal Development
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